Title

Author

Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Cassandra Taylor

Abstract

Nurses who provide care in robotic surgery must have sufficient special training in the operation of the da Vinci robot to perform their roles with knowledge and confidence that can yield optimal patient outcomes. The local nursing practice problem in the project facility, and the focus of this doctoral project, was the lack of an evidenced-based robotics education program for registered nurses who participate in robotic surgery. The gap in practice was nurses' lack of knowledge, which interfered with the care provided to the robotic surgical population. The purpose of this project was to develop a staff robotics education program in order to answer the question if the implementation of an evidence-based robotics education program would improve nurses' knowledge in the practice of robotic surgery. The education program was developed using Knowles adult learning theory and information obtained from a comprehensive literature search. A planning team, consisting of local clinicians with expertise in robotic surgery, provided feedback and assisted with the development of the education program and accompanying competency checklist. Ten nurses received the education, and 90-100% of the nurses reported increased knowledge and confidence regarding practice in the specialty of robotic surgery following the education. Leadership at the project site have decided to require surgical nurses receive the robotic education upon their employment and annually thereafter. The social change resulting from the use of this evidence-based robotics education program could include increased nursing performance and therefore, decreased complications for patients undergoing robotic surgery.